National Health Index

The National Health Index number (NHI number) is a unique identifier that is assigned to every person who uses health and disability support services in New Zealand.

A person’s NHI number is stored on the National Health Index (NHI) along with that person’s demographic details. The NHI and associated NHI numbers are used to help with the planning, coordination and provision of health and disability support services across New Zealand.

The NHI is associated with the Medical Warnings System (MWS), which is designed to warn healthcare providers of any known risk factors that may be important when making clinical decisions about individual patient care.

Information for health consumers on the National Health Index (NHI). About 95 percent of New Zealand citizens have their own unique NHI number. This number is used by authorised health workers to help identify you so that you don’t have to keep repeating the same information.
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